Wake Up! The Guild Leader Overslept?!
Present Day – Jakarta, Indonesia
Location: National Awakening Selection Hall
Today was a huge day for Indonesia's Hunter world.
The Hunter Association was hosting the National Awakening Selection—a prestigious event where ordinary people had a chance to become frontline warriors.
And overseeing this grand occasion were none other than the five strongest guilds in Indonesia:
Leviathan Core
Garuda Prime
Mahameru Claw
Yasha Flame
And of course… Guild 404.
The most absurd yet powerful guild in the country.
What once began as a silly intern squad had now become a force respected across Southeast Asia.
And the leader?
> Yup. That's me.
Zeon Smith.
Once a fake sidewalk fortune teller.
Now?
> The most feared guild master in Indonesia.
But today...
> I overslept.
---
08:56 AM – Five Minutes Before Opening Ceremony
> "ARGHH! WHY DIDN'T THE ALARM GO OFF?!"
I tumbled out of bed like a potato sack.
Hair looking like a fried lion, face still unwashed, and my beloved Guild 404 hoodie got caught on the doorknob.
> "Today's the NATIONAL SELECTION, ZEON! You were supposed to wake up early!"
I shouted at myself in full panic mode.
Towel? Skipped.
Breakfast? Dream on.
Shoes? Who cares if they don't match?
> "I'm the leader of the strongest guild! And yet…"
> "If people find out I overslept... this'll go viral again, won't it?"
---
09:02 AM – Selection Hall
The event had already begun.
Hundreds of participants stood in line.
Officials called out names, and the top guild leaders sat with calm authority and charisma.
Meanwhile…
I—Zeon Smith—was sneaking in from the side of the stage.
Hoodie up, mask on, moving quietly through flyers and crowds.
> "I thought being a guild leader meant I could do whatever I want.
So why do I feel like I'm robbing a chicken coop right now?"
I was trying to find a hiding spot—until...
> "Hey! Are you here for the Awakening too?"
A girl suddenly appeared in front of me. I nearly jumped.
> "Ah... I guess you could say that," I said awkwardly.
> "Wow, impressive. Everyone else looks tense, but you seem chill. I'm Elaina. Nice to meet you!"
> "I'm... Ze—uh, Zeno. Yeah. Nice to meet you too," I replied, half-lying.
We started walking together.
> "I awakened just yesterday," Elaina said.
"There was a sudden Gate opening, and a C-Rank monster appeared.
Luckily someone helped me… a girl with no shadow."
> [Lisa Sintiana. Co-founder of Guild 404.]
> "Sounds like you got lucky," I said, smiling faintly.
But before we could continue, a snide voice chimed in.
> "You're bragging about fighting a C-Rank? Seriously? In this place?"
> "What do you mean?" Elaina asked, confused.
> "Maybe that's impressive to some random civilian. But here? That's pathetic,"
the man sneered.
"This is where elite Hunters are born—not some playground for girls."
> "I'm not bragging. I'm a beginner. I was just telling a story!" Elaina snapped back.
> "Pfft. Join a low-tier guild or something. Don't aim too high."
> "Huh?! You wanna go?!"
> "Bring it, kid," said the man—Toni Setiawan.
> "Please, guys, stop… don't cause a scene," I tried to mediate.
---
PRRRT!!
A loud whistle pierced the tension.
An Association officer marched over.
> "Enough! If you keep this up, you'll be disqualified from the selection."
> "Haha, it's nothing, sir!" we all said at once.
> "Good. Now get in line and enter the Awakening Zone."
> "Yes, sir!" Elaina and Toni said together.
---
I exhaled deeply.
> "Phew… that was close."
> [Note to self: Stop chatting so much. If they find out I'm not a participant but the Guild 404 leader in disguise… I'm toast.]
---
09:15 AM – National Awakening Room
We entered the Awakening chamber.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement.
People cheered, laughed, even snapped selfies.
It felt more like a festival than a national selection.
At the far end of the room, four individuals sat in honorary seats, each wearing their guild's uniform.
Their presence was like gravity—pulling every gaze toward them.
> The leaders of Indonesia's top guilds.
Flanked by... the Association's Vice Director.
But—
> One seat was empty.
I stared silently.
> "That's... my seat."
The seat of Guild 404's master.
Zeon Smith.
…Yeah, that's me.
sigh
---
> "This is my first time doing an Awakening test. What about you, Zeon?" Elaina asked.
> "Uhh... fifth time," I muttered.
> "FIVE times?!"
Elaina stared like I had three heads.
I simply nodded.
---
> "Then you must know who those people are—the ones sitting up there looking like anime protagonists?" she asked.
Before I could answer, the annoying voice returned.
> "You seriously don't know? Wow, what a backwater bumpkin."
> "Ugh! You again?!" Elaina growled.
> "Listen up, kid. Those are the top-tier guild masters.
They're normally too busy to attend events like this.
But today? They're here because the Vice Director personally asked them to."
> "Vice Director?" Elaina repeated.
> "Look behind them. See that man standing still, surrounded by men in black suits?
That's him—the Vice Director of the Central Association.
Second most feared person after the Hunter President."
I looked over.
Yep. That cold aura, black sunglasses, and shadowy energy.
> "Ah... he showed up too, huh," I muttered.
---
> "But... who's that empty seat for?" Elaina asked again.
Toni's tone dropped to a whisper.
> "That… is for the leader of Guild 404.
The strongest 'monster' among all Hunters."
> "Rumor has it he trains his team to near-death every week.
The result? Guild 404 became the most dominant guild in history."
> "Whoa... that sounds amazing!"
Elaina was visibly impressed.
"But… where is he now?"
> "SHHH! Don't just ask that out loud!" Toni hissed.
"404 matters are sensitive. Not everyone can talk about them freely."
I stayed silent.
They had no idea...
The person they were talking about was sitting right behind them,
wearing a wrinkled hoodie and a cheap mask.
> "Oh my god..."
"Why do I feel like a criminal sneaking into a school event?"
"If they find out, I'm gonna become a national meme."
I leaned back into my plastic chair, trying to become invisible.
> "One empty chair is causing all this chaos...
And the guy's right here. Sitting with the applicants."
---
Suddenly, the mic crackled.
> "Welcome to the 2025 National Awakening Selection!"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
> "We will now begin the Mana Activation Phase—
the moment when your hidden potential may awaken!"
Tension filled the room.
Elaina took a deep breath.
> "Zeon… I'm nervous," she whispered.
> "Relax. Just don't puke on the floor," I whispered back.
---
An official stepped onto the stage and raised his hand.
> "First row of participants, please step forward to the Crystal Zone!"
A handful of people moved toward the large glowing crystal in the center of the hall.
It shimmered with a magical blue light, reflecting like a lake of mana.
I stared at it.
> [That crystal... once almost exploded when I touched it.]
[But that's a story for another time.]
---
Just as the line began moving, Elaina grabbed my sleeve.
> "Zeon… if I fail, don't laugh at me, okay?"
I looked at her, smiled under my mask.
> "If you fail... we'll run away together."
She gave a shaky smile.
> "Let's go. Our group's next."
---
But from across the room...
One of the guild leaders stood up and narrowed his eyes at us.
> "Hmph… who's that guy in the hoodie?" he muttered.
"I feel like I've seen that face before…"